Perplexity makes GPT-6 Sol the default light option in its effort selector
OpenAI's newest efficiency-focused model slots into Perplexity's freshly launched effort mode as the go-to option for everyday tasks
Perplexity AI has quietly reshuffled how its Computer agent handles model selection, and the biggest beneficiary is OpenAI’s newest release. GPT-6 Sol is now the default model for the Light preset inside Perplexity’s new Effort Mode, a feature that rolled out between September 17 and 21, 2026, and is designed to take the guesswork out of picking the right AI tool for the job.
The timing is deliberate. OpenAI launched GPT-6 Sol on September 16, 2026, positioning it as a more affordable alternative to the flagship GPT-6 Astra, which had debuted just two weeks earlier on September 3. Perplexity wasted roughly 24 hours before slotting it into the most-used tier of its effort selector.
What Effort Mode actually does
Think of Effort Mode as a thermostat for AI compute. Instead of asking users to manually choose between models, it presents a slider with four presets: Light, Standard, High, and Ultra.
Each preset automatically selects both the underlying model and the reasoning depth appropriate for that task category. Light is optimized for speed and cost on routine queries.
Effort Mode is currently live on the web. Mobile and desktop application support is planned but has not yet shipped as of this writing.
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GPT-6 Sol and the economics behind the choice
GPT-6 Sol’s positioning as a cost-effective alternative to GPT-6 Astra makes it a logical fit for the Light tier. OpenAI has priced GPT-6 Sol at a substantial discount compared to earlier model variants, according to the company’s pricing structure.
This is not the first time Perplexity has moved quickly to integrate new OpenAI releases. In July 2026, the platform incorporated GPT-5.6 Terra and Sol into its product, and GPT-6 Astra followed in early September. Perplexity has indicated that the model assignments across presets will update automatically as new releases arrive.
OpenAI shipped GPT-6 Astra on September 3 and GPT-6 Sol on September 16, a gap of 13 days between two distinct flagship-tier releases. Perplexity had Sol live as a default within roughly 24 hours of its availability.
For users, the practical takeaway is simpler: if you are running Perplexity’s Computer agent on the web and you haven’t changed anything, you are already using GPT-6 Sol for lightweight tasks.